The Division Bell

Deathinition wrote:

There are 3 types of Pin Floyd fans...

-the Syd Barrets

-The Roger Waters

-The David Gilmours

I' m a  David Gilmour-type

And Division Bell is Pink Floyd at their best to me...

 
i'm a DAvid gilmour one but without roger wouldn't be ANIMALS, WYWH;DSOTM,WALL,MEDDLE etc...

If thats the dark side of Floyd... then they don't need a light side.

I got into Floyd because of The Division Bell.  Its still my favorite Floyd album, although 3fates has somewhat swayed me to appreciate Animals just as much.  And coming into Floyd backwards and in the last 6 years, has allowed me to look at things a bit less biased than those of you who are more fans of one member against the other.

I'm a guitarist, so I'm going to appreciate Dave more.  And I've never been all that into Roger's dark lyrics, especially the ones from the Wall and after.  I can't even listen to his solo albums.  I like a lot of the earlier stuff, don't mind Barrett, but don't think he was genius. And I do like AMLOR.  And after finally having all their material studio and live, and even a few boots here and there, I think TDB and AMLOR sounds a lot more like Floyd than The Final Cut does. 

So I understand those of you who don't want to like AMLOR and TDB because Roger is missing. But I don't think you've given the music a fair shake, and thats just my opinion!

Here's a different take on the album.  I like it fine even if it doesn't jangle my socks.  But my wife, who doesn't like prog at all, loves The Division Bell.  The reason is because of its passion and emotional depth.  She also loves DG's voice.  What it all adds up to for her is she thinks it's incredibly sensuous and sexy!    What do you think of that??

Litl wrote: Here's a different take on the album.  I like it fine even if it doesn't jangle my socks.  But my wife, who doesn't like prog at all, loves The Division Bell.  The reason is because of its passion and emotional depth.  She also loves DG's voice.  What it all adds up to for her is she thinks it's incredibly sensuous and sexy!    What do you think of that??

I agree with that totally!!

And evidently they had plenty to say after WYWH... Animals came after that.. and thats their best IMO.

flowerchild wrote: threefates wrote: And evidently they had plenty to say after WYWH... Animals came after that.. and thats their best IMO. Indeed, and did you know that Gilmour fixed The Wall when Waters came with a lot of demo-tapes that sounded awefull. Gilmour organised it all.

Hmm Flowerchild, I don't follow you there... and what does this have to do with The Division Bell?

Sean Trane wrote: Cluster, I agree with Reed. How can one rate this 5 stars? That Floyd is 100% prog : 100% agreed without a shadow of a doubt. Masterpiece should concern roughly 5% of albums in a genre. And I am sure even in your book Division Bell is not in your top 5%.

Respectfully, I must disagree with this point about how a masterpiece should be only 5%.

I understand what you are saying HOWEVER you must realise that if an album IS a masterpiece than it's a masterpiece. Simple as that. Also, the ratings are always in the opinion of the reviewer.

My point is not in reference to "The Division Bell" album (which, I actually have never heard) but to the 5% quota. For the sake of argument, let's say that we agree that Close to the Edge, Foxtrot, Wish You Were Here, Thick as a Brick, Moving Pictures, In the Court of the Crimson King, Script for a Jester's Tear, Mirage, Brain Salad Surgery, Pawn Hearts, Images and Words and In the Land of Grey and Pink are all Masterpieces. What if I only owned those albums? Could I only rate ONE of them as a masterpiece because I have to stick to the 5% rule? I may prefer prog metal and feel that none of these albums are masterpieces.

In the end it comes down to taste. What can be argued for sure though is if The Division Bell is Pink Floyd's best album, second best, etc. I don't know, but no matter what I think, some WILL think different than me!

And they would be wrong!

The Division Bell was one of the more memorable albums I owned at age 18.  I took a long road trip with a good friend and this album.  The themese on the album have great for a particular mood.

I'd consider a few songs on the album (High Hopes, Coming Back To Life, Marooned) to be somewhat of masterpieces of more ambient British prog rock.  The other songs are not outstanding but certainly make for a good time...and are fun to sing along with.

threefates wrote: I actually love AMLOR... I don't know why every one has such a problem with it.  I think that Learning to Fly and On the Turning Away are just marvelous... but Sorrow and Yet Another Movie.. give David another rise to shine... and shine he does.  The only one of the songs I have a problem with on the studio album is Dogs of War... but on the live "DSOT"... Dave just blows that song out of the water... and even that song sounds just wonderful!!!

I also really like AMLOR, On the Turning away is great, and learning to fly is a classic.

High Hopes is Pink Floyd's best song ever

I like the intro, but otherwise not. There's no Syd...